Island



June 21, 1927. 1,633,108

I. w. KNIGHT VALVE APPARATUS Filed Jun s, 1925 a Sheets-Sheet' 1 INVENTOR Ave W K/v/Gm" BY W, Mu mar ATTORNEYS June 21,1927. 1,633,108

- v I. w. KNIGHT VALVE APPARATUS Filed June 8, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR My 14/ Mv/w/f BY M0111, eldwu fiw ATTORNEYS June 21, 1927.

I. w. KNIGHT VALVE APPARATUS Filed June 8, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR A? W MV/fiA/T wfldwwrw ATTO R N EYS June 21,1927. 1,633,108

I. W. KNIGHT VALVE APP RATUs Filed J1me a, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fko/v SKs'rEM INVENTOR A; Hwy/0 ATTORNEYS June 21,1927. 1,633,108

I. w. KNIGHT VALVE APPARATUS Filed June a, 1925, 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 75 Dew/v 4 INVENTOR:

167 W KAI/ H7 ATTORNEYS Patented June 21, 1927.

UNITEDV'STATES' 1,633,108 PATENTTOFFICE. Y

IRA W. KNIGHT, OF CRANSTON, RHOIJE ISLAND, ASSIGNOB TO GENERAL FIRE EXTIN- GUISHEB COMPANY, or PROVIDENCE, Rnonn IsLANn, CORPORATION or DELA WARE.

Application filed .Tune 8,

. ice, and wherethe-structuralweakness'of the risk makes it impracticable or financially prohibitive to use a large gravity tank. Such systems, hether of the wet or dry pipetype,'include between the supply main and the distribution pipes a normally inactive pump and control meanstherefor responsive to the system pressure, for starting the pump whenever a sprinkler head is opened. Reliability being of the very es- P sence, it is highly advisable .to test such systems frequently. -The great cost ofhav ing experts visit each risk to make the tests :locally, with desirable frequency, emphasizes the desirability to have several risks connected electrically with a central supervisory station, by'a device enabling a test of any individual risk to be made by a person at that station whenever desired. Such a system is disclosed in United States Patent No. 1,50%563, granted August 12, 1924, to Albert J. Loepsinger and entitled Supervisory device for automatic sprinkler systems and the like. The test valve apparatus illustrated and described herein is particularly adapted for use in a supervisory system such as is disclosed in that patent; but other applicationsof its principles are possible for operating a valve located at a distance from the operator. For automatic sprinkler systems the invention is applicable to both wet pipe and dry pipe arrangements. I

An illustrative embodiment of the inven. tion comprises a valve controlling an outlet from a sprinkler system whereby a situation may beproduced simulating the conditions that would exist in the system it a sprinkler head were opened by fire; The-stem of this valve is-lifted by a lever which is a sort of connecting rod to translate the rotary motion of a crank into reciprocating-motion VALVE APPARATUS.

tems it is, a feature that, during its said rota- ,been started. For a dry pipe system the apparatus .may be somewhat simpler beand supplementary circuit for continuous ifects a condition analogous to one which I would cause the pump to start for fire extinguishment, the movement of the cam disk 1925. Serial no. 35,837.

of the stem, to openor close the valve. The crank isturned throughv a single rotation by suitable gearing, driven by a small electric motor which starts in responseto an impulse relayed from a remotecentral supervisory station. The crank arm is a disk Whose peripheral edge constitutes a series of cam surfaces adapted during a single rotation to make and break certain circuits controlling the motor. When applied to wet pipe systion, thedisk controls other circuits connected with the water flow alarm device, to the end that the flow of water incident to the test shall not send a water flow signal tothe central station, such as occurs when a sprinkler is openedlby a fire, nor permit a supplementary control circuit to be made whose normal function is to maintain the pump cont nuously 111 operation once it has cause the test can becompleted without unseatmgthe dry pipevalve, and, since the latters opening controls the alarm apparatus I) pump action, there needbe no provision in the test valve apparatus for rendering these elements temporarily inoperative. Where the opening of the test .valvepromptly efcan be continuous through the single rotatlon, but wherethe test valve needs to be held open awaiting the occurrence of a rearranged event, as for-example the. blee ing of the system pressure to a predetermined degree, it is a further feature tohave the disk pause at the end ofa half rotation, with the test valve open, and then upon the occurrence of the i expected event, to continue through its remaining half rotationto close the valve and then stop until another test is initiated by the central station operator.

The present application is directed to the 10 generic principles of the invention, and specifically to their application in illustrative apparatus having a continuously moving cam disk, In my co-pending application Serial No. 37,336, filed June 15, 1925, appa- 1 ratus providing a pause during the complete rotation of the disk is disclosed and specifically claimed.

It is intended that the patent shall cover by suitable expression in the appended claims whatever features of patentable novelty exist in the invention disclosed.

y In the accompanying i drawings Figurel is an elevation of a booster pump sprinkler system of the dry pipe type cmbod'ying the test valve of the present invention, and shows more or less diagrammatically the local circuits at-a risk and also the main transmitting wires connecting it and a neighboring risk with the centralstation;

Figure 2iis an elevation of the test valve of Figure l, and actuating mechanismtheretor comprising a continuously moving disk, showing the valve closed;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure-2, but with the valve shown open,

Figure at is a side view partly in section on line P401 Figure 2, but with the wires omitted,

Figure 5 is an elevation similar to Figure l but showing the invention applied to a wet pipe sprinkler system;

Figure 6 is an elevation of the test valv of Figure 5, in closed position, showing also the valve actuating mechanism, and the ad ditional means provided for rendering inoperative the circuits controlled by the Water ilow alarm valve, and 5 Figure 7 is an elevation like Figure 6, showing the position of the several parts when the disk has completedone half of its continuous rotation.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows diagrammatically a supervisory system extending from a central oflice A to distant lire risks B and C, and in more detail, the sprinkler system of the latter risk. This is oi the dry type having a booster pump 10 set between a low pressure supply pipe 12 and the dry pipe valve l t, beyond which the distributing lines 16 lead to automatic sprinkler heads '18 placed in regions to be protected in case of fire. The valve-14 may be either of mechanical or ditlerential type, the latter being the kind indicated. As illustrated, the intermediate chamber of the differential valve co-operates with control apparatus whereby thepump is automatically started whenever the supply pressure enters the intermediate chamber; and this may be taken as typical of any valve having a chamber or compartment which the water enters when the valve operates.

The automatic pump control includes two pressure responsive devices, one of which, 20, ot type actuated by fall of pressure, is connected to the system on the air side of the dry pipe valve, being shown connected to the riser 16; and the other of which, 22, is of a type actuated by rise of pressure, and is connected through a pipe 23 with the intermediate chamber 15 of the valve. Both devices are electrically arranged in parallel This by-passage 28 joins the pipe in a circuit a which includes the energizing coil of a solenoid switch 24 adapted to connect terminals 0 in another circuit (Z which includes a rheostat starter 26 for the motor 27 of pump 10. Actuation of either responsive device 20 or 22 closes the solenoid circuit, and thus brings about the operation of the pump for boosting the supply pressure Ordinarily, when a sprinkler head opens the air pressure tall acts first, andthrough device 20 starts the pump; and then upon the opening-of the dry pipe valve, with consequent rush of water into its intermediate chamber and thence through pipe 23 the pressure rise device 22 is actuated; and this continues the pump in operation after the pressure tall device 20 has broken its partof circuit a because of pressure having risen again in the system 16. But for a mere test of the pump as to operative condition it'is quite desirable to leave the air side of the system undisturbed, and so the pressure rise device 22 is employed. The latter may be connected to either the water side or the air side ofthe dry pipe valve; and it connected to the air side it takes so little from the system that its operation does not appreciably change the air pressure and does not at all approach the production of'a fall-sutiicient to trip the dry pipe valve 14. In cases where the water supply pressure may be zero, or very low, it will be preferable to connect the pressure rise device 22 of the system on the air side of the dry-pipe valve. However, in the embodiment illustrated the branch con' nection 28 for operating this test valve is represented as branchin from the system on the water side of the ory pipe valve. is thus arranged it constitutes a by-passage, controlled by the test valve 32, to the pressure responsive device 22, paralleling the regular operating channel for that device which icludes the intermediate chamber 15 and the pipe 23 leading thence laterally to device '22;

23 beyond a check valve 30 which permits flow from the chamber through 23, but prevents reverse flow, except that a restricteo vent in its clapper permits a drainage relief from 28, 22, enough to relieve the pressure in the latter whenever the by-passage 28 pressure supply is cut oif. This slight inflow to the intermediatechamber escapes by the usual drain 31 to waste, and is small enough to avoid operating the usual automatic closure valve in this drain.

The present invention has to do with the branch passage, herein called lay-passage 28, and means for opening and closing its control valve 32 with such speed and inter vals of time as will make test of the operative condition of the electrical and hydraulic apparatus and supply, all from the central supervisory station at a distance. J

worked by a lever 36 pivotally mounted at one end on a casing 37, and at its free end provided with a slot 361 in which slides a crank pin 38 outstanding. from the flat side of a disk 40. lVhen the latter is turned as by suitable gearing from motor 42,- the lever is raised and lowered thereby effecting an opening and closingof. the valve 32.

The valve motor is started, when'a testis 'ingorder or the water supply has failed, or

made, by the operator at the central station sending a distinctive series of impulses over the circuit L .which may conveniently be done by methods well known but for which only a finger key 'isillustrated at A which causes the selector S at the selected risk to close a switch 44 in a circuit including wire 6 leading from one side of the power mains another terminal 52, nected by wire 2' to wire f so that when the switch terminals.

M, through wire fto the motor 42 and along wire 9 back to the other of the power mains. This circuit is closed only momentarily, be-

cause the selector S resets its switch 44 open as soon as the impulse transmission ceases. Accordinglythereis provided a supplementarycircuit through a branch wire it leading from the wire ahead of the selector switch 44 to one terminal 46 (Fig. 2) of a spring switch S, located in the casing 37 housing the'valve motor and disk 40, and having an insulated base or holder 47 through which projects the terminal 46. and

The latter is contwo terminals are in contact the supplementary circuit is complete. The terminal 46 has a roller 48 arranged to ride on the peripheral edge of the crank disk 40. When the test valve is closed, this roller rests in a hollow or depression 50 in thedisk edge which allows its terminal 46 to spring away from the other terminal 52 of the switch, which'latter is held back by its stop 54. During the momentary closing-of the selector switch S the motor starts and turns the crank disk 40 far enough for the depression 50 to leave the roller 48 and'for the higher camsurface that extends continuously around the disk except for the hollow 50 to push the roller far enough to close the spring Where these are in contact the supplementary circuit through the motor is closed, and the motor is kept running continuously until the roller again falls into the hollow, and since this is at the end of the complete rotation of the crank the test valve will have been opened and closed while the supplementary circuit is maintained. I have discovered that by a suitable co-ordination of speeds of action of pressure responsive device 22, switch 24, starting box 26, and pump 10 with the speed of rotation of disk 40, it is possible during asingle continuous rotation to have the valve 32 open, remain open long enough for sufiicient fluid pressure to reach the responsive device 22 to operate various elements tostart the pump,

and cause the various supervisory signals tobe sent, and then be closed to permit this by-passed pressure on device 22 to leak away and thus to stop the pump. This permits the making of the valve control in the extremely simple arrangement shownwith continuous rotation through the cycle of the test. 7

If for any reason the pump is not in workthe electrical power is defective, this condition is indicated at the central station by failure of any signal to arrive there from the transmitter T which sends a distinctive signal upon rise of pressure. Another test may be made atonceor'a personal inspection of the apparatus to find the trouble.'- In erably the pump is ofa type which does not, produce pressure sufiicient to open the dry pipe valve when air in the pipes is atnormal pressure. When a sprinkler ha s opened this pressure falls steadily. 'If' successful in startingthe pump the operator can by re peating the test immediately, and still. again, if necessary,-'maintain the boosted pressure on the dry pipe valve until the system air pressure has become sufficiently reduced by escape from the assumed opened sprinkler to permit the valve to be opened by the boosted pressure. This wouldthen be. followed by a permanent actuation of the pressure rise device 22 and continuously effective sprinkler discharge pressure. t

Figures 5 to 7 illustrate the application oi the invention toa wet pipe system, in which water standsin the supply pipe 12, idle pump 10, and riser 16, up to a water flow alarm valve 58. Beyond this valve the system is charged with water and incidentally entrapped air at apressure set up. by the pump during a previous period of operation. Connected to the distributing line beyond th valve is a surgetank 60 in which is entrapped air that transmits'the system pressure to the control device 20, responsive tofall of pressure, as previously described, to close the circuit a through the solenoid switch 24 which in turn establishes the connection between terminals 0 and starts the pump; The result ing flow in the riser-16 opens the valve 58 which causes a water flow signal to be sentto the central office by customary or suitable transmitting apparatus T and also bring .rences while the test is being made.

exist it a sprinkler head actually opened;

and yet i1 the water tlow signal were trans mitted the apparatus T would be run down and would. require manual resetting; and this would also energize the solenoid switch 2% permanently, until manually released. It is, therefore, desirable to avoid these occur- The I test valve apparatus with its associated mech anism and electrical connections as shown in ldigures 5, 6, and 7, accomplished this double purpose automatically when the operator at the central station sends the pro ier impulse along line L to close switch 44.. In thus closing, the switch a l establishes a circuit from power main lvl through wire 6, the switch it, wire f, the test valve motor 42, and wire 9 back to the power lines M. This starts the valve motor 42 which by suitable gearing rotates the disk D which in this instance is illustrated with its depression 50 arranged opposite the crank pin 38, and vertically upward when in idle position (Figure 6). The initial turning'of the disk D causes the depression 50 to leave and the peripheral cam surface of the disk to pass under the roller 62 of an insulated arm 64: thereby raising the latter and setting an attachedspring switch terminal f against an unattached terminal 72/] The terminal is connected to wire f, and the terminal h to a wire it leading from wire 6 ahead of the'solenoid switch 44:, so that this cont-act enables the current to continue through the motor after the solenoid S becomes de-energized, which happens very promptly after the initial impulse is received from the centralstation. Accordingly the motor'continues to run until the disk has made a complete rotation bringing the depression 50 again under the roller 62 whereupon the drop of arm 64 opens the terminals f h and thus stops the motor42.

During its rotation the disk, by'pin 38 and the lever "36, has opened and closed a test valve 32 of the three way type. This valve is in the passage 66, 68 from the system to a pump controlling device like device 20, and set to be actuated upon fall of pressure to a predetermined degree. lVh-en closed the valve closes a discharge outlet '70 "from 68 and the pump control device 20 to a drain 72, being held tightly to its seat by the system pressure. and at the same time opens 66 to 20 through its opposed valve seat 7 3, surrounding the stem 3%. As its stem is lifted transmitter T i the valve '32 isjtransterred from its: seat around out-let 70 to its seat 73 in the partition of the valve. This venting of the device 20 to atmosphere, with cutolt" of system pressure insures its prompt drop to the actuating degree, and the start of the pump. T he system pressure beyond the valve 58 isbarely disturbed for the slight leakage during the shifting oi the valve 32 is not appreciable. The operation of the pump soon boosts the pressure in the riser 16 below the valve 58 and this change is indicated at the central oilice by means of a pressure responsive signal transmitter T.

The test valve stem 3% is in two sections with a pair of stiff diaphragm springs 3% connecting them and providing the necessary yield when needed. Y

It the pressure beyond the check valve 58 is lower than that produced by the pump, the check valve will open under flow of the water and thus close the terminals '78, of a spring switch which forms part of a self supervising circuit comprising two loops, both ext-ending from one of the terminals to the other, in one of which loops is a battery 82 and in the other of which is the solenoid switch of transmitter T hen the terminals are open current flows in both loops,

keeping the field of thesolenoid energized and its armature indrawn, but when the terminals are closed, as upon the opening of the check valve 58, the high resistance loop through the solenoid is short circuited per -mitting its armature to fall and release a spring-actuated key 84. ()n this key are suitably arranged fingers which, as'the key rotates, make and break the circuit through line L to give a distinctive water flow signal at the distant station; and there is also finger 86, represented as insulated but not necessarily so, which near the end of the keys rotation closes the spring terminals of a switch 88. This completes a circuit a through solenoid switch 2% and as previously described effects continuous operation of the pump.

During a test, however, the present invention provides for making the closing of the switch terminals 78, 8O ineffective to short circuit the loop through the solenoid of The wire 7' of one solenoid loop leading from terminal 78 is connected to a springterminal j",.projecting through the insulating holder 47 mounted in the motor casing 37, and tending to move toward is stop 90. Another terminal 70 adjacent to terminal j has its end 70 bent back over the end of terminal 7"; and holds the latter away from its stop 90, when the disk D is in the position shown in Figure 6. This terminal 7: is connected to wire 7; which forms the continuation of the loop through the sole noid to terminal 80. The wire Z also lead- Z which tends to rest aga-ins tits stop 92.

The remaining terminaLm' which-is secured to arm 64, is connected w1th wire m running to battery 82 from which theloop continues along wire nqto the terminal 80 of the water pervising circuit are, in their normal rela-,

tion, with thesolenoid loop ready to be short circuited in case the water flow valveopens and closes the terminal 78, 80. This is the condition with the testvalve closed and with the system idle and ready.

Upon the initial rotation of the disk B when a test is started, therise of the roller 62 and arm 64 as the-cam surface comes under it, moves terminal m with Z following still in contact until m touches is thereby joining electrically the wires m and Further rise of the arm 64 draws m away from l as the latter reaches its stop 92, and also lifts the turned over end of k away from y" as the latter is restrained by its stop 90. Thus the battery and solenoid loops are connected and the terminal 7 8 0f the water flow Switch is cut out of the loop circuits. Accordingly, if flow consequent upon the booster pumpsiaction during the test opens the valve 58 the resulting closure of the terminals l' 8 and '80 does not short circuit the v solenoid loop, and no water flow signal is sent, the key 84 is not'released and'the circuit through wires 00 to solenoid 24 is not completed. When the test valve 32 is shifted back to its initial position and the system pressure acts upon responsive device 20 the pump will be stopped. At the same time,

' the terminals 7', 70, m, and Z will be again moved to bring y" and k in contact, as well as m and l; The boosted pressure in the riser 16 below the check valve 58 will leak away through the pump glands, leaving the system ready for another test or for fire extinguishing action should the need arise, and

of said element to motion of translation of said valve; power means for rotating said element; means forenergizing said power means; and means controlledby said element for da -energizing the power means at the end of a complete rotation of said elec ment.

2. Valve apparatus comprising a valve seating in the directionof its axis; a rotating element adapted in a slngle rotation to ping its movement at the effect a complete cycle of operations of the valve; a lever having connection with said valve and crank connection with said ele ment, whereby rotary motion of; said element effects motion of translation of said valve; powermeans for rotating saidelement; means for energizing said power means; and means controlled by said element for de-energizing the power means at the end of a complete rotation of said element, v

3; The A combination with an automatic sprinkler system for fire protection having a pump for boosting the supply pressure and control means for said pump including a device responsive to changes of system pressure, of means for testing said system comprising a passage for fluid under pressure communicating with said device, a valve set in said passage and adapted to be moved axially thereof to control pressure changes upon said device whereby the latter is actuated to start and stop said pump; means for moving said valve at will, comprising a rotating element; means extending to a distance for setting said element in motion; and means associated with said element for stopend of a single rotation.

4. The combination, with an automatic sprinkler system having a pump for boosting the supply pressure, a device responsive to change of pressure controlling operation of said pump, and signalling means responsive to flow consequent upon the operation of said pump, of testing apparatus for effecting a change of pressure on said device to start and stop said pump; said apparatus comprising means controlling said signalling means whereby the latter is rendered incapable of transmitting a flow signal during the test.

5. The combination, with an automatic sprinkler system having a pump for boosting the supply pressure, a device responsive to change of pressure controlling operation of said pump, and signalling means responsive to flow consequent upon the operation of said pump for transmitting a signal to a distant station, of apparatus for testing said system comprising a passage for fluid" under pressure communicating with said de vice, a valve set in said passage and adapted, upon being moved, to elfect change of pressure upon said device, whereby it is actuated to start and stop the pump, means governing the movements vof said valve comprising a rotating element which in a single rotation effects a complete cycle of valve operations,

and means actuated by said element for rendering the signalling means incapable of transmitting a flow signal during a test.

6. The combination, with an automatic sprinkler system havinga pump for boosting p the-supply pressure, and control means for said pump including a device responsive tochange of system pressure, of valve apparatus for testing said system, comprising a passage for fluid underpressure communieating with said device, a valve set in said cycle of valve operations; and means for rotating said element.

7. The combination with an automatic sprinkler system ha ing a pump for boosting the supply pressure, and control means for said pump including a device responsiveto changes of system pressure, of valve apparatus for testing said system comprisinga passage for fluidunder pressure to said device, a valve in said passage Whose movements control pressure changes upon said device and actuate it to start and stop the pump; means for moving said valve comprising a rotating element which in a single rotation controls a complete cycle of valve ope-rations, means extending toa distance for settin the element in motion, and means controlled by the elementfor stopping its motion at the end of its single rotation.

Signed at Providence, Rhod'e Island, this 17th day of October, 1924.

IRA W. KNIGHT. 

